Well, we’ve been talking so much about back to school lunches, I almost forgot about the whole ‘what’s a quick and easy breakfast option that I can grab ‘n go’ concept!

BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE THOSE MORNINGS.

I try to get everyone up 15 minutes earlier than I think we need to get up, in order to just get through the morning routine. I don’t like the frenzy that happens with the ‘get your backpack,’ ‘where are your glasses?’ that inevitably happens…despite my best intentions and organization.

(Hence the extra 15 minutes…so that my son has time to make some eggs for everyone. And I can get the baby changed before we get into the car. Or I can make a skillet full of sausage patties for a protein boost!)

But since we all have those mornings when we literally only have 7 minutes to grab n go, here are a couple of ideas for you to have on hand in the freezer…

I spent an hour yesterday with 3 dozen eggs, half a bag of shredded cheese, a pound of sausage, fajita wraps and english muffins and made 32 breakfast burritos, 6 egg mcmuffins, and 12 hard boiled eggs (my kids like those for quick snacks) – they pack their breakfast and eat it at school with the other students. Great time saver! I can’t wait to stock up on muffins as well.

Baked Oatmeal is one of my go-to quick breakfasts; I usually cut it into squares, but muffins would work too. It takes almost anything ingredient-wise, and I often make it when I realize I have 6 little bags of tiny bits of dried fruit and nuts and a too-brown banana and a few scrapings of applesauce left in a jar…flexible! I usually can’t be bothered to make muffins, but I do a 9×9 pan of something, cut it into squares, and put it in those little reusable Tupperware things…Also, PIZZA! Where I grew up, cold pizza for breakfast was one of the reasons you deliberately ordered (or made) too much the night before. However, since moving to Chicago I don’t do that much any more…Chicago pizza, awesome as it is, isn’t as good cold as the East Coast stuff I grew up with. Not sure what the difference is exactly…

BTW, our family’s way out of the Morning Frenzy–I set a daily alarm for 15 minutes before the bus arrives (or the car leaves). It goes off, I (or whichever kid is closest) hit the snooze and holler “Ten minute warning!”–that’s the cue for shoes, coats, backpacks, all the “get ready” stuff to happen. When it goes off the second time, we know we have to step out of the door to make the bus. It takes ME out of the equation in terms of getting people moving, and places it on the clock and each individual. I’ve done this since my kids were 3 or so, and even then they got it and figured out quickly what it meant, although I still had to do most of the “doing” to get them out the door.

I make Herbal life shakes w/ fruits & nuts/ seeds and sometimes Oatmeal the night before. I just grab it and it gives me a few extra minutes I can use to check my emails. The bonus is that it is nice and cold instead of on the room temp side from being blended. I have a hectic schedule and can also grab this between appointments.

Another hearty grab & go muffin:
spray your muffin tin(s)
use prepared stuffing mix (2 tablespoons?) on the bottom
cover with a fresh cracked egg
top with your choice of cooked bacon, ham, sausage
finish with a sprinkling of cheese
bake at 350 degrees for about 20 min. or until eggs are set
ADDICTIVE!